The Peacock Tree

                                                        

I am getting a little addicted to this blogging thing.  Something has happened recently. For the first time in years, I have the time to read, write, and create (for myself not for a job).

Fortunately Facebook has been boring me, so it hasn't had a hold on me.  That could totally eat up way too much time.   But blogging is another thing all together.  I keep getting all these ideas that I have to get down.  It is like a collection of my thoughts, and all the things I love. 

Anyway, this is my second for the day.  I think two is a little much, but I have been working on this certain project for a week now.  I woke up in the middle of the night with the idea of creating a tree painting which had peacock feathers instead of leaves, or a hybrid of a leaf and a feather for leaves.  So I wanted to document the process, because I often mess up horribly by doing too much, although the last few strokes are what brings it all together.

These first two sketches are preliminary ideas, one of which I drew while waiting in the DMV this week while my husband renewed his license. 

I really liked the second one's design, but it is on cheap paper and the marker I used ruined it.  But I was just playing around with the idea.  It's the journey, right?

Today, I began a new painting.  I sketched the design with  a water soluble pencil on watercolor paper. 

Then, I used a thin black pen to outline.

 I used water colors to add tints of color.  I didn't plan on this being my final, so I didn't use my favorite watercolor paper and that was a mistake.  I took the risk that it would be good, and not on archival paper. 

I added acrylic paints to deepen the color.  I am not a purist.  I tried to stick with only water colors, and then decided that I need to add other mediums and material.  My dilemma with the leaves was whether to have them all feathery, or like leaves with peacock dots.  One of my private students told me I should have both.  So that is what I went with. 

This will be a work in process.  I love my idea, and some of my elements, but I am not ecstatic with the finished product.  I do have to admit, I enjoyed writing about it though.